Game Boy Micro: In the Box

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Check out what you'll get inside the Micro pack next week.

By Craig Harris

In just a few days time, Nintendo's Game Boy Micro will go on sale all across the United States. The system, a shrunk down version of the Game Boy Advance system, will ship in two flavors in North America: Silver and Black, for $99.99. What's the big deal? Well, it's anything but big -- the system is one of the smallest game systems ever created, and though the unit doesn't play anything but GBA titles (Game Boy and Game Boy Color games are out of the question this time), the screen has been much improved with sharp back light technology.

We've already had our hands-on with the unit when the Game Boy Micro was sent to us several weeks ago. That unit, however, was sent here solo with nothing but an AC Adapter. This morning, Nintendo sent us the full version of the Silver system, packaging and all so we can dig in and see exactly what will ship to stores next week.

The box itself is about the size of past Game Boy systems, but the presentation is completely unique to Nintendo: instead of offering a point-of-purchase display that screams "videogame!" Nintendo instead created a box that's much akin to an Apple iPod unit to show just how sleek, sexy, and small the system actually is. The box is much more gadget oriented this time around. Perhaps this is the new direction Nintendo's taking with its game systems -- after seeing the Revolution system and controller, we wouldn't be surprised at all if this was the case.

Get a good look at the "Silver" packaging of the Game Boy Micro.

Inside the box, purchasers will find a huge assortment of "stuff." Along with the presented system and two additional faceplates, Nintendo has jammed in a carrying sock for the Game Boy Micro, an AC adapter, and a ton of documentation in English, French, and Spanish.

There's also a white plastic "widget" that helps make removing faceplates easier -- the disk has two prongs on the edge that perfectly fit into two holes in the left side of the unit, and when the prongs enter the holes, the left side of the faceplate pops off effortlessly. It's a much safer solution than simply wedging our fingernail into the crack of the system and prying it off&#Array;something we've been doing with our system for months.

Left: Game Boy Micro comes with the system, two additional faceplates, AC adapter, a widget to pop the faceplates off, documentation, and a carrying sock. Right: Silver and Black Game Boy Micros. Complete with finger grease.

The Game Boy Micro has already been released in Japan in a smaller, more game system familiar box. The Japanese unit comes with only the face plate included with the system, the AC adapter, carrying sock, and documentation. It does not come packaged with the plastic widget.